Our Edinburgh Fringe Production

After three weekends of rehearsals and a photo shoot for a title image we have...

Weekend One we played with some Portuguese in Bute Park and killed off a middle aged man with a baby wolf whilst the rabbits flooded the village of South America. Also the baboon didn't get his smelly way!

Weekend Two we had a transgender politician who had to come to terms with his or her original desires of playing the piano.

Weekend Three we had more politics when we had a chair law which became rebelled against by a murmuring Scottish rapper. Also, how artist like Gainsborough are nothing to children. Nonetheless they who grow up to the same struggle and unemployment in fits of jealousy and raging pains towards the successful.

Photographer: Stefani Johnson Photography

Aspiration, Imagination, Trepidation

Ways that the work load whirls the wily wind chimes of the brain wit. Whilst the whistle waits to wind up the winter cogs that whip the wet wombats what wanly wander to and fro. Difficult to read? Watch what happens when we add a multitude of metaphorical imagery with onomatopoeic sounds along with the ridiculous level of alliteration. I scream 'No' let alone you.

I class this as aspiration. We want so much, yet really the possibilities at one given time are not so great. Project after project may turn up and keep the insane happy, like what in general it does for myself. (Not that I am insane, but certainly can look or sound that way when I talk to people about what I do). Never enough and then I aim for the next star, recently seen a science programme on BBC2 so I shall reference for those doing exams - it might help (doubt it), like a supernova explosion. 'I see the light' but so do a shed load of others. Lined up like gnomes in a mixed metaphor all aspiring to find a joyful moment that will see them through to actually reeling in the fake fish from the pond.

Sensational streams of light shoot through the cosmos brightening up the sky, brightening up those dullen lives. Ideas. Imagination that is let loose can be a wondrous while which only needs someone, anyone to say 'I do'. Be it mixed and unclear or married into another companion of marginally suitable company. Clarity comes with time and detail and perhaps the lose of some smiles of interpretation. Playful shaping of un-intellectual language forcing more crazed ornamental words that cover the truth. Second the thought and who knows what will happen, aspire to have the time. Yell out for the detail. Panic about what may be and you'll leave the vellum of chance.

Set up for the trepidation of overloading the mirage of tropical flotation devices soon become too much. Stop. Let me think. Hang on. Stay still. Got it? Makes no sense. How can a flotation device be tropical? Quite right. Whilst we weave through the weeds of words that whiffle what we mean, then soon the answer comes. Aha, whilst I was thinking about breakfast I now see that all my aspiration that gave me uncertainty and overloading thought patterns can be less troublesome than thought. Imagine my surprise as I relax into a nice light sleep (after breakfast) and realise that risk a little gain a lot. Waffle a little and you got supper. (What is supper anyway?)

In all the stars that gnomes do see it marries together the thoughts of ancient philosophers and the yet to make sense and says why not! It can be true till otherwise proven. Theories, conspiracies, realities; all the possibilities are endless if you want them to be. Work on the smiling project and let loose the others. Many or few, whatever is for you. Sail through even if its not new.

Although this might be exploration and explanation of an extrapolation it really lacks the sense of mitigation. (Stay sane with the fact we both feel the urge for clarification, but now lets allow for interpretation).

The Show May Just Go

Certain change is in the air. Ludus Ludius has an update. What is the news to tell? Theatre funding cuts are forcing many long-time survivors to now struggle. The air is thin and so will people’s hair line. Soon enough the high rocking musical, ‘Hair’ will have to be called ‘Bald’. Still nonetheless after the cast causing audiences’ lung cancer from smoking onstage I think baldness is the least of the issues there.

Really now, change is most certainly about. We are focusing on less community or theatrical endeavours (if we can let some projects go) and more on youth and applied improvisation. However this means gathering improvisers together for a tighter network and community for performers. Ludus Ludius looks at what we can really do to overcome the depressive period of financial struggle to achieve the most. What I think is to combine minds and utilise everyone’s skill. If someone can juggle, can we improvise with it? If someone tap dances, of course we can improvise with it. If someone can milk a cow, we can definitely improvise with it. Any route into improvisation is said, a lot, to work better when you are not just a performer. I have once heard a group of scientists that started a group and there was a magnificent quality to the production that occurred. Ludus Ludius are on the search for more youngsters between the ages of eleven and eighteen years of age. In order to make this possible what the youth groups need is appropriate workshopping spaces for training young improvisers. Anyone who is able to help or wants to learn to improvise can get in touch in the usual manner, nathan@ludusludius.co.uk.

However, the show may just go. For most in the industry of culture or entertainment it has been and doubtlessly will be the show must go on. However, with cuts this is mighty troublesome and I think we should change the statement. For sure we can when it comes to the lovely art form of improvisation. We start a show and who knows what can happen. The format may alter as we go along, such as freeing the format that I have workshopped last year with some experienced players. For example, . In this clip we see the freedom of the players to improvise with whatever happens. Every poster I try to design for a new show turns out as this at the moment. (But that is the whole reason I began improvising). The show may just go also, because we may have one show, or it could take flight and we have struck the lucky bell of Tokyo and here we come. Either way after funding cuts and sad looks of vast amount of faces we turn to our youth society to seek the improvements. Get the opportunity for spontaneous workings to work and the future can look bright.



To see the bright light of the future that is on display ask your local youth centre to get Ludus Ludius Youth to perform their TV-style improvised comedy production, Shock The Geek. (We are yet to pilot it and test out the games that the humorous blighters play).

Thank you for your attention and don't forget to email anything to nathan@ludusludius.co.uk.

Mouse That Soared

The article was in the Daily Mirror on Friday 12th November 2010. There I was sat in Chapter Arts looking for a interesting article. What I saw from this mouse was delightful. The article explained that the mouse was after food. This 'little fella' is just like an improvisation player, or improviser, as us little fellas are also after our food. Food being something we need and like.

Our little fella in this article was keeping his eye on the food and climbed up an axe handle and soared through the air for the delicious reward. His leap was not based on the possibility that he (or she) may fail. The little fella didn't calculate or hesitate about how he (or she) may get to the other side. Therefore, our little fella risked without pause for what he (or she) desired.

Each time us little fellas climb up our axe handle onto the stage we do so by hurling ourselves into the unknown. If its just for a grain of corn that is enough. We risk failure and we do not hesitate and certainly we cannot calculate. (There has been times were we end up in a mathematical problem and then we quickly work it out and say it, but this is not what I mean). By all means there is no hurry, the little fella didn't rush up the axe and dive dive dive. Alike us we keep our eye on the food and steadily explore and soar. The air is our ground. The heights are the wonder. The sensation is our stimulus. The snapper (photographer) for the little fella that made it all happen for the mouse, he is our watcher too. They snap us every moments we offer. Our snappers make the show.

Our audiences like to see our risk. That's what they snap up. The offer, the building something together, the unknowing and risk. The photo caught a mouse soaring, This is just as delightful as if we saw it in person. This, thus, means that no matter how rapid fire the manoeuvre is there will still be pleasure from it. Same risk, same goodness. The snapper was Scott, 33 year old. He had taken other brilliant photographs too. The main reason he is worthwhile mentioning further is because he said, "it was a challenge." Risk is a challenge, we indulge it.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/11/12/the-mouse-that-soared-115875-22710497/

Young Spontaneity

It is human nature to be spontaneous. When we are young toddlers we are intrigued by a lot. This state of being is useful. We learn we discover and we don't hold any prejudice over what we discover or see. As adults it is remarkably the opposite. However we still have no choice to be spontaneous.

What changes the inquisitive nature of the child as we grow up? Keith Johnstone blames the education system. This could well be true, but what I see is more than that. Its the social implications of being seen as a bit too risky, a bit too wild. A person that can and will do anything at any point is too much to comprehend. In a romantic relationship its a common request that, I want my partner to be more spontaneous. Why is this a request? You play too safe and we get bored. What life can be when we are more spontaneous is therefore not boring.

Even as an audience in watching an improv show, if the players keep doing the safe games in the same roles in a classic format, then it does become more tedious and too safe. (Short-form improvisational comedy shows are classically formatted by various games played which have players in certain roles in the game the scenes that are created are never the same; however the format can be).

We do not like feeling safe: What is a mid-life crisis? Is it someone who has lived their life without risk and change? If this is an agreeable statement, then perhaps our young community needs more spontaneity to allow this to continue through their lives. If its not an agreeable statement, then we can further the connection, but lets leave that to another time.

The reason that this article is written is due to Ludus Ludius Youth having been run for awhile now and the experience of the young improvisational players having sporadic imaginations or the polar opposite. We are in fact aiming for the more difficult task not because of a personal choice, but as its the more suitable option for the players. Tight, restrictive rules are seemingly always too much. Freer scene work is preferable. Personally, every time that we explore something new, be it a new group or age range then we all learn and discover something new.

Young spontaneity in these days is highly interesting. Do you want to watch? Do you want to participate? Do you think we should keep spontaneity flowing through all our life, not just the very young?

Its easy to share your thoughts and get involved with this, email nathan@ludusludius.co.uk and join our mailing list or share thoughts and ask to part-take.

Vote in this Poll - Bonsoir! Catch Impro

With Bonsoir! Catch Impro coming soon, we would love to know who YOU think will win.

Two sessions in the show on Sunday 5th September, 7pm, so twice as likely to be right. It's being held at The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX. This is near Aldgate tube.

Our teams are:
The Winner vs. Necessary Sponges
Sad Jazz vs. The Cheese

In each session you vote for a team and if you place a bet, then you could win money. (We are not a betting agency and are not knowingly taking bets). See BetFred and they might be able to help. Use the popular vote from this poll, it may just help!

Link: http://www.polljunkie.com/7bASqA/Poll8562.aspx

Bonsoir! Catch Impro Tickets, The Bell (formerly The Market Trader), London

Bonsoir! Catch Impro Tickets, The Bell (formerly The Market Trader), London